In cartilage tissue engineering, as a cell source, adult stem cells are very attractive for
clinical applications. Recent studies suggest that human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs)
have multilineage potential similar to bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs). ASCs are
obtained from adipose tissue easily isolated by suction-assisted lipectomy in various body parts.
Also, as one of major factors of cartilage tissue engineering, scaffolds have an important role in
cartilage formation. Poly(L-lactide-co-ε-carprolactone) scaffolds have physiological activity,
biodegradability, high cell affinity, and mechano-activity. The object of this study is cartilaginous
tissue formation using highly elastic PLCL scaffolds and ASCs in vitro and in vivo.
Poly(L-lactide-co-ε-carprolactone) copolymers were synthesized from lactide and ε-carprolactone
in the presence of stannous octoate as catalyst. The scaffolds with 85% porosity and 300-500μm
pore size were fabricated by gel-pressing method. ASCs were seeded on scaffolds and cultured for
21days in vitro. Cell/polymer constructs were characterized by reverse transcriptase-polymerase
chain reaction for confirming differentiation to chondrocytes onto PLCL scaffolds. Also, for
examining cartilaginous tissue formation in vivo, ASCs seeded scaffolds which were induced
chondrogenesis for 2 weeks were implanted in nude mice subcutaneously for up to 8weeks.
Histological studies showed that implants partially developed cartilaginous tissue within lacunae.
And there was an accumulation of sulfated glycoaminoglycans. Immunohistochemical analysis
revealed that implants were positively stained for specific extracellular matrix. These results
indicate that ASCs and PLCL scaffols could be used to cartilage tissue engineering.